Vaporization device

ABSTRACT

A device and method for vaporizing a consumable is presented herein and includes a chimney, a battery pack connected to a heating element, a cup for holding a consumable to be vaporized. The heating element heats the cup and/or the consumable. The consumable vaporizes dues to being heated (directly or via the cup). The vapor mixes with the air and flows around the cup, down the chimney, avoiding the heating element. That is, the heating element is separated from the flow of vapor product and air. Thus, the flow of vapor product and air bypasses the heating element. Further, the power source is arranged in close proximity to a common axis of the chimney, cup, and carb, and thus, improves the stability of the vaporization device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/061,351, entitled “Vaporization Device,” filed Aug. 5, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward a vaporization device, and in particular, to a heating element of a vaporization device separated from ambient air.

BACKGROUND

In view of developments in technology and the law, vaporization devices have become quite popular. Often, to function, a vaporization device heats a consumable and/or inhalable product such as an oil, a concentrate, or a combustible plant substance to create a vapor for a user to inhale. Heating liquid or wax consumables has become particularly popular since liquids and waxes may be more concentrated and/or specialized as compared to plant substances and because a quantity of wax or liquid may last longer than a similar quantity of plant substance.

In typical vaporization devices, the vapor products of the consumable mix with air flow and pass through a heating element. The vapor product may be burned when it contacts the heating element. Further, the heating element may corrode from contact with the vapor product and/or air, and thus, reduce the useful life of the heating element.

Moreover, in at least some vaporization devices, a heating element may be powered by a battery pack that juts out (e.g., extends) from a side of the vaporization device. This arrangement causes instability due to the weight of the battery pack shifting the center of gravity of the vaporization device laterally beyond the structure of the vaporization device. That is, attaching the battery pack to the vaporization device may cause the vaporization device to tilt or tip over, which may break glass or other fragile components of the vaporization device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of at least the aforementioned issues, a vaporization device having a coil separated from the vapor product and air flow is desirable.

The present invention relates to a vaporization device that improves the life of a heating element of the vaporization device by preventing a flow of fluid from contacting the heating element. Moreover, the stability of the vaporization device is improved by coupling the battery pack in close proximity to the rest of the vaporization device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of a vaporization device, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 1B is an exploded back perspective view of the vaporization device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 1C is a side view of a vaporization device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 1D is a top perspective view of a heating element of the vaporization device of FIG. 1C.

FIG. 1E is a bottom perspective view of the heating device of FIG. 1C.

FIG. 1F is a top perspective view of a cup received in the heating element of FIG. 1C.

FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of a fluid flow through the vaporization device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a back perspective view of the vaporization device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the vaporization device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the vaporization device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is another front perspective view of the vaporization device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the vaporization device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a back view of the vaporization device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the vaporization device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is another side view of the vaporization device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11A is top view of the vaporization device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11B is a bottom view of the vaporization device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12A is a perspective view of a vaporization system, according to an exemplary embodiment

FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional side view of the vaporization system of FIG. 12A.

FIG. 12C is an exploded side view of a vaporization system of FIG. 12A shown with another example component that is usable with the vaporization system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is given solely for the purpose of describing the broad principles of the invention. Embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example, with reference to the above-mentioned drawings showing elements and results according to the present invention.

Generally, a device and method for vaporizing a consumable as presented herein includes a chimney, a battery pack that is connectable to a heating element, a cup for holding a consumable to be vaporized, and a carb for regulating the flow of air through the vaporization device. Air flows through the carb into the cup holding the consumable. The heating element heats the cup and the consumable. The consumable vaporizes dues to being heated. The vapor mixes with the air and flows around the cup, avoiding the heating element (e.g., a coil) while flowing down the chimney. That is, the heating element (e.g., a sealed coil) is separated from the flow of vapor product and air. Thus, the flow of vapor product and air bypasses the heating element (e.g., a coil). Further, the power source is arranged in close proximity to a common axis of the chimney, cup, and carb, and thus, improves the stability of the vaporization device.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a vaporization device 100 is shown. The vaporization device 100 includes a carb 110, cup 120, a heating element 124, a power source 130 with a transfer element 132, and a chimney 140. The carb 110, cup 120, heating element 124, transfer element 132, and chimney 140 have a cylindrical shape and aligned along a common axis 150. That is, the carb 110, cup 120, heating element 124, transfer element 132, and chimney 140 are coaxially aligned.

The chimney 140 includes an inlet 142, outlet 144, and a tapered section 146 disposed between the inlet 142 and outlet 144. The tapered section 146 may have a frustoconical shape, and is configured to be inserted into a vaporization rig, (e.g., a pipe, a water pipe, a bong, a bubbler, etc.). The inlet 142 is configured to receive a support ring 136 and/or the transfer element 132.

The heating element 124 may be a disc-shaped member, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, or a cup-shaped member, as shown in FIG. 1C-1F. Generally, the heating element 124 is configured to generate heat in response to receiving electricity, such as via resistive heating. In the embodiment shown in at least FIGS. 1A and 1B, the heating element 124 heats a bottom 121 of the cup 120. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1C-1F, the heating element 124 includes walls 127 that define a cavity or chamber 126. Thus, the heating element 124 shown in FIGS. 1C-1F extends around a bottom 121 and sides 123 of the cup 120 and heats both the bottom 121 and the sides 123. This may provide distributed heating of a consumable in the cup 120 that enhances vaporization. Additionally, the cup-shape heating element 124 shown in FIG. 1C-1F may grip, or at least support, the sides 123 of the cup 120 and, thus, may prevent the cup 120 from breaking during use, assembly of the vaporization device 100 and/or disassembly of the vaporization device 100. In either case, the heating element 124 may be or include a metal heating coil, a ceramic heating coil, and/or any other heating element that may be sealed from air and/or vapor products flowing through the device 100.

As can be seen in FIG. 1E, the heating element 124 may include a central protrusion or peg 125, such as a threaded protrusion 125, configured to engage the through-hole 133 of the transfer element 132 (see FIG. 1B). The engagement between the through-hole 133 and central protrusion 125 may maintain alignment of the heating element 124 with the transfer element 132. Although this feature is shown in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1C, it may also be included on other embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in at least FIGS. 1A and 1B. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the cup 120 may include a protrusion 125 that extends through heating element 124 (e.g., via a sealed passageway). Regardless, the protrusion 125 can connect the heating element 124 to the transfer element 132 so that space is provided between these two elements (as shown in FIG. 1D) or so that these elements contact each other (as shown in FIG. 2).

The cup 120 is configured to contact the heating element 124 and to hold a consumable to be heated by the heating element 124. The consumable is placed inside a cavity of the cup 120 through an opening (e.g., via an open top). A bottom 121 of the cup may have a reduced radius configured to rest in and/or on the heating element 124. The bottom 121 is a closed element so that when the cup 120 is installed in and/or on the heating element 124, the bottom 121 may serve as a barrier that prevents a flow of air/vapor product from impinging the heating element 124. In some embodiments, the heating element 124 and/or the cup 120 may include features to align these two elements on a common axis. For example, the walls of the heating element 124 shown in FIG. 1C may align a cup 120 within the heating element 124. Additionally, the central protrusion 125 may align the cup 120 and heating element 124 on a common axis with transfer element 132.

The cylindrically shaped carb 110 includes a top portion 112 having a carb hole 114, or a through-hole, and internal cavity. The carb 110 is configured to surround the cup 120 and engage the support ring 136. That is, the cup 120 is disposed on the heating element 124 inside the internal cavity of the carb 110. The carb hole 114 is configured to receive a flow of air from ambient.

The power source 130 is electrically coupled to the heating element 124 via the transfer element 132, which is electrically coupled to the power source via a support ring 136 and struts 134 and/or via elements, e.g., wires, embedded or included thereon. The transfer element 132 is disposed offset from the power source 130 about half way between a top end 137 and bottom end 139 of the power source 130. That is, the support ring 136 and transfer element 132 are disposed outside of the main body of the power source 130, and aligned with the common axis 150 of the carb 110, cup 120, heating element 124, and chimney 140, but the power source 130 is laterally offset from the common axis 150. The support ring 136 is further configured to support the power source 130 when coupled to the chimney 140. That is, the weight of the power source 130 is transferred through the support ring 136 to the chimney 140. In some implementations, the support ring 136 and transfer element 132 may be disposed closer the top end 137 than the bottom end 139 or vice versa. In some implementations the transfer element 132 is an induction coil. Alternatively, the transfer element 132 may include a conductive contact that electrically couples to conductive contacts of the heating element 124.

The transfer element 132 has a disc shape with a through-hole 133, or aperture, disposed in the center. The transfer element 132 is connected to the support ring 136 via two struts 134. The support ring 136 extends laterally from the power source 130 and surrounds the transfer element 132. A radius of the support ring 136 is larger than a radius of the transfer element 132. Two gaps 138 extend circumferentially between the transfer element 132 and the support ring 136 (and are separated by struts 134). When in use, a flow of air and/or vapor product passes through the two gaps 138 after bypassing the heating element 124. That is, in use, the flow of air and/or vapor products does not flow through the heating element 124 (nor the transfer element 132), but rather, around it via the gaps 138. Although two gaps 138 are shown, the device 100 may have any number of gaps 138 between the transfer element 132 and support ring 136. In some implementations, the transfer element 132 may be a metal element, but it may also include an insulated coating.

The power source 130 is closely arranged on a lateral side of the carb 110, cup 120, heating element 124, and chimney 140. For example, a longitudinal axis 160 of the power source may be separated from the common axis by a small distance so that the power source 130 is flush against the carb 110, cup 120, heating element 124, and/or chimney 140 or only separated therefrom by a few millimeters. For example, the power source 130 may be separated from the carb 110, cup 120, heating element 124, and/or chimney 140 by 0-15 millimeters.

Additionally, the longitudinal axis 160 of the power source 130 may be parallel with common axis 150. The power source 130 includes a concave surface 135 that is configured to conform to the outer surfaces of the carb 110 and chimney 140. That is, a top portion of the concave surface 135 conforms to the carb 110, and the bottom portion of the concave surface 135 conforms to the chimney 140. The close proximity of the longitudinal axis 160 of the power source 130 with the common axis 150 of the heating element 124, carb 110, cup 120, and chimney 140, minimizes the amount of torque acting on the device 100 due to the weight of the power source 130. That is, the weight of the power source 130 may generate a torque at the interface between the support ring 136 and chimney 140, which may cause the device 100 to topple. In some implementations, the center of gravity of the device 100 may be between the longitudinal axis 160 and common axis 150.

The power source 130 further includes a user interface 170 to control the heating element 124. For example, the user interface 170 may control a vaporization parameter. Vaporization parameters may include temperature, a heating time, and a heating frequency of the heating element 124 (e.g., turning the heater on for a period of time, then off for a period of time and repeating the heating cycle). In some implementations the user interface 170 may be a toggle switch with preset positions corresponding to predetermined settings of vaporization parameters. In some implementations, the power source 130 may be a battery pack (e.g., lithium-ion battery, nickel-metal hydride battery, etc.) and/or an AC-DC transformer configured to plug into an electrical outlet.

The carb 110, cup 120, heating element 124, transfer element 132, support ring 136, and chimney 140 may be coupled to one another via a magnets, threading, and/or an interference fit. For example, magnets may be disposed at the support ring 136 and inlet 142 of the chimney 140. The magnets may be arranged to attract one another, and thus couple the support ring 136 to the chimney 140. Alternatively, or additionally, the support ring 136 may be held onto the chimney 140 via an interference fit between the support ring 136 and inlet 142 of the chimney 140. Similar couplings may also be used to couple the carb 110 and/or cup 120 to the heating element 124 and/or to couple the heating element 124 to the transfer element 132 and/or the support ring 136 (e.g., in addition to or instead of threading). That is, magnets, threading, and/or an interference fit may be used to couple any two components of the device 100 together.

FIG. 2 depicts a fluid path for a flow 200 of fluid, (e.g., air and/or vapor product) through the vaporization device 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B. The vaporization device 100 is depicted with the carb 110 removed from the vaporization device 100 to show an internal view of the flow 200 of air and/or vapor product 210 through the vaporization device 100. However, during use, the carb 110 may be disposed on the support ring 136 surrounding the cup 120.

During operation, a consumable is placed in the internal cavity 122 of the cup 120. The carb 110, cup 120, power source 130, heating element 124, and chimney 140 are joined to assemble the device 100. The power source 130 activates the heating element 124 (e.g., in response to actuations of the user interface 170). The heat from the heating element 124 heats the cup 120 and/or the consumable, causing the consumable to vaporize into vapor product 210. A fluid flow 200, e.g., air, is drawn into the carb hole 114 and mixes with the vapor product 210 in the cup 120. The flow 200 travels through an annular channel between an outer surface of the cup 120 and an inner surface of carb 110 to the gaps 138 between the transfer element 132 and support ring 136 and thus bypasses the heating element 124. That is, substantially no flow of air and/or vapor product 210 flows into, or through, the heating element 124. The flow 200 continues from the gaps 138 to the inlet 142 of the chimney 140, through the chimney 140, and out the chimney outlet 144. Because the flow 200 bypasses the heating element 124, corrosion of the heating element 124 may be avoided, and thus, the life of the heating element may be extended.

FIGS. 3-6 depict perspective views of the device 100. FIGS. 7-11B depict front, back, first side, second side, top, and bottom views of the device 100, respectively.

Now referring to FIGS. 12A-12C, a vaporization system 10 having a vaporization device 100 received in a vaporization rig 300 is illustrated. The vaporization rig 300 includes a base 310 and a mouthpiece 320. The mouthpiece 320 includes a cylindrical tube having an inlet 322 and an outlet 324. The base 310 defines an internal cavity 312, a base inlet 314, and a base outlet 316. The base internal cavity 312 is configured to receive a liquid. The base inlet 314 fluidly couples chimney outlet 144 with the cavity 312. For example, the base inlet 314 is configured to receive and support the vaporization device 100 with an interference fit. That is, the base inlet 314 conforms to an outer surface the chimney 140, and a portion of an outer surface of the power source 130. Consequently, the interface between the outer surface of the chimney 140 and the inner surface of the base inlet 314 may be substantially airtight.

The base outlet 316 is configured to fluidly couple the mouthpiece 320 with the base cavity 312. As shown in FIGS. 12A-12B, the base outlet 316 receives the mouthpiece inlet 322 and supports the mouthpiece 320. That is, an inner surface of the base outlet 316 conforms to an outer surface of the mouthpiece inlet 322. Consequently, the interface between the outer surface of the mouthpiece inlet 322 and the inner surface of the base outlet 316 may be substantially airtight.

The cavity 312 is configured to be filled with a liquid (e.g., water) up to a desired fill level 318. At least a portion of the chimney 140 is configured to protrude though the base inlet 314 such that the tapered section 146 protrudes into the cavity 312 and the chimney outlet 144 is below the fill level 318. The mouthpiece inlet 322 is configured to remain above the fill level 318.

During operation, a consumable is placed in the cup 120 and is vaporized into vapor product 210 in the manner described above with reference to FIG. 2. A user places their mouth at the mouthpiece outlet 324 and inhales. Consequently, a vacuum is created through the vaporization system 10. The vapor product is guided through the vaporization device 100 and drawn out of the chimney outlet 144, below the fill level 318, and bubbles through the liquid to the fill level 318. The vapor product continues up through cavity 312 to the base outlet 316 through the mouthpiece inlet 322 and out the mouthpiece outlet 324. Accordingly, a user can inhale the vapor products from the vaporization system 10.

FIG. 12C illustrates the vaporization system 10 with the vaporization device 100 and mouthpiece 320 separated from the base 310. The cylindrical mouthpiece 320 may be replaced with a bubbler 320′. The bubbler 320′ includes an inlet 322′ and an outlet 324′, the inlet 322′ being configured to engage the base outlet 316. The bubbler 320′ is configured to receive and contain a liquid between the inlet 322′ and outlet 324′. A user can induce a flow of air/vapor products through the inlet 322′ through the liquid and to the outlet 324′. Because the bubbler 320′ includes a liquid to cool vapor products, the cavity 312 may be empty. That is, the cavity 312 may not contain a liquid when the base 310 is connected to the bubbler 320′ having liquid. Alternatively, the bubbler 320′ may be used without liquid and the cavity 312 contains the liquid. In some implementations, both the bubbler 320′ and the interior cavity 312 contain a liquid for cooling the vapor products and/or to influence/interact with the vapor in different manners.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since it will be apparent that various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the inventions and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. In addition, various features from one of the embodiments may be incorporated into another of the embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims.

It is also to be understood that the vaporization device 100, carb 110, cup 120, power source 130, heating element 124, support ring 136, and chimney 140 described herein, or portions thereof may be fabricated from any suitable material or combination of materials, such as plastic, foamed plastic, wood, cardboard, pressed paper, metal, ceramics, supple natural or synthetic materials including, but not limited to, cotton, elastomers, polyester, plastic, rubber, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. Suitable plastics may include high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), or the like. Suitable foamed plastics may include expanded or extruded polystyrene, expanded or extruded polypropylene, EVA foam, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.

Finally, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. For example, it is to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “inner,” “outer” and the like as may be used herein, merely describe points of reference and do not limit the present invention to any particular orientation or configuration. Further, the term “exemplary” is used herein to describe an example or illustration. Any embodiment described herein as exemplary is not to be construed as a preferred or advantageous embodiment, but rather as one example or illustration of a possible embodiment of the invention.

Similarly, when used herein, the term “comprises” and its derivations (such as “comprising”, etc.) should not be understood in an excluding sense, that is, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include further elements, steps, etc. Meanwhile, when used herein, the term “approximately” and terms of its family (such as “approximate”, etc.) should be understood as indicating values very near to those which accompany the aforementioned term. That is to say, a deviation within reasonable limits from an exact value should be accepted, because a skilled person in the art will understand that such a deviation from the values indicated is inevitable due to measurement inaccuracies, etc. The same applies to the terms “about” and “around” and “substantially”. 

1. A vaporization device comprising: a cup configured to receive a consumable; a heating element disposed on the cup and configured to heat the cup; a power source having a transfer element configured to transfer power to the heating element; a chimney having a chimney outlet; and a carb having a carb inlet, the carb configured to regulate a flow of air; wherein the carb, the cup, the transfer element, and the chimney are configured to define a fluid flow path from the carb inlet to the chimney outlet, and the flow path bypasses the heating element.
 2. The vaporization device of claim 1, wherein the transfer element is an induction coil and the heating element is a resistive heater configured to receive power from the induction coil.
 3. The vaporization device of claim 1, wherein the transfer element is a conductive contact configured to contact and electrically couple to the heating element.
 4. The vaporization device of claim 1, wherein the heating element is disc-shaped or cup shaped.
 5. The vaporization device of claim 1, wherein the chimney further comprises a tapered section defining the chimney outlet, the chimney configured to engage an inlet of a vaporization rig.
 6. The vaporization device of claim 1, wherein the carb, the transfer element and the chimney are coaxially aligned along a common axis; and the power source further comprises a longitudinal axis offset from the common axis.
 7. The vaporization device of claim 6, wherein a center of gravity of the vaporization device is disposed between the common axis and the longitudinal axis.
 8. A vaporization system comprising: a vaporization device configured to vaporize a consumable comprising: a cup configured to receive the consumable; a heating element disposed on the cup and configured to heat the cup; a power source having a transfer element configured to transfer power to the heating element; a chimney having a chimney outlet; and a carb having a carb inlet, the carb configured to regulate a flow air; wherein the carb, the cup, the transfer element, and the chimney are configured to define a fluid flow path from the carb inlet to the chimney outlet, and the fluid flow path bypasses the heating element; and a vaporization rig configured to support the vaporization device and cool vaporization products from the vaporization device, the vaporization rig comprising: a base having a cavity, a base inlet, and a base outlet; and a mouthpiece having a mouthpiece inlet and mouthpiece outlet.
 9. The vaporization system of claim 8, wherein the base inlet is configured to receive the vaporization device.
 10. The vaporization system of claim 9, wherein the chimney is substantially disposed in the base inlet.
 11. The vaporization system of claim 8, wherein the base outlet receives the mouthpiece inlet.
 12. The vaporization system of claim 8, wherein the fluid flow path is further defined by the cavity, the base outlet, the mouthpiece and the mouthpiece outlet.
 13. The vaporization system of claim 8, wherein the carb, the transfer element, the chimney, and the base inlet are coaxially aligned along a common axis; and the power source further comprises a longitudinal axis offset from the common axis.
 14. The vaporization system of claim 13, wherein a center of gravity of the vaporization device is disposed between the common axis and the longitudinal axis.
 15. The vaporization system of claim 8, wherein the heating element is disc-shaped or cup shaped.
 16. A method comprising: guiding a flow of fluid through an inlet of a carb and into a cup disposed within the carb; guiding the flow of fluid from the cup to an annular channel between an outer surface of the cup and an inner surface of the carb; guiding the flow of fluid from the annular channel to a gap between a transfer element and support ring; guiding the flow of fluid from the gap to a chimney; and guiding the flow of fluid through the chimney and out a chimney outlet.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the flow of fluid bypasses an interior of a heating element and an interior of the transfer element.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising discharging the flow of fluid from the chimney outlet into a liquid disposed in a cavity of a vaporization rig.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising guiding the flow of fluid from the cavity to a mouthpiece of the vaporization rig.
 20. The method of claim 16, further comprising heating a consumable disposed the cup; and mixing the flow of fluid with vaporization products from the heated consumable. 